We all have a role to play - the President, Congress, parents, students and schools - in making college affordable and keeping the middle class dream alive.

Schools and districts and unions are working together on some really innovative things.

Other countries have outeducated us. They have made this a priority. And a big part of what I'm trying to do, frankly, is raise the profile of education and get America to wake up.

Teachers support evaluations based on multiple measures: student growth, classroom observation and feedback from peers and parents.

The only way we get better is to look in the mirror, assess our strengths and weaknesses, and figure out where we need to go. But if we run around saying, we're number one, we're number one, and we're not, that doesn't help us get where we need to go.

We all have a role to play - the President, Congress, parents, students and schools - in making college affordable and keeping the middle class dream alive.

I think it's my job to tell the truth.